New Delhi: As the Congress-led UPA Government marks the completion of its second year in office on Monday, the Prime Minister's dinner being organised to mark the occasion will have some surprise guests.
The Left Parties' progress report on the Government's performance may reflect their unhappiness, but they have decided to join in the party.
"We will be going for the UPA dinner. We don't see any harm in going to a dinner being hosted by the Prime Minister," Communist Party of India leader D Raja said.
However, this apparent bonhomie should not be mistaken for a long-term camaraderie with the comrades.
Riding high on the resounding victory in the Kerala and West Bengal Assembly elections, the Left is determined to increase its bargaining power with the Central Government.
"We are going to aggressively pursue what needs to be done with the UPA government," General Secretary CPI-M Prakash Karat said.
The Left sees the victory as a verdict against the policies of the UPA Government and is now sensing an opportunity to mount pressure with some hard bargaining.
Topping the list of their renewed demands are those in the economic sphere.
They will continue to block the UPA's efforts to push the Pension Bill and the Banking Regulatory Bill.
The Left also continues to see red on the Prime Minister's proposed labour reform, and will continue to monitor closely the steps taken by the Government on its oil pricing policy.
While economics will dominate the Left-UPA relationship in the months ahead, the two sides seem to have worked out a rapport on foreign policy issues, at least as of now.
CPI-M politburo member Sitaram Yechury acting as interlocutor in the Nepal crises was a classic example of a growing convergence of interests on certain issues.
And yet, while Nepal is an example of the Left and the UPA coming together, it is the differences that will perhaps be more closely watched.
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